National Day of Mourning marked with solemn march

The annual National Day of Mourning Safe Workers of Tomorrow Leaders' Walk for workers killed, injured or became ill due to workplace hazards and incidents in Winnipeg on Friday, included the family of Todd Maytwayashing, a 22-year-old from Lake Manitoba First Nation who was killed in January while working as a Manitoba Hydro contractor near Gillam.DECLAN SCHROEDER/Winnipeg Sun/Postmedia Network / SunMedia

Irvine Jubal Fraser, a Winnipeg Transit driver, was stabbed to death by a passenger he’d woken up at the end of his route.

Ravinder Singh Hare, a truck driver, was killed when his truck jackknifed and rolled over.

Sukhvir Sidhu, another truck driver, died after his semi collided with another outside Thunder Bay.

Fraser, Hare, and Sidhu were just three of the 13 Manitobans killed on the job in 2017. Another 14 died as a result of occupational illnesses.

Their names were read out loud Friday at Memorial Park as part of a ceremony commemorating the National Day of Mourning — a day that honours those who have been killed, injured, or become ill due to workplace hazards and incidents.

“Today, we honour the memories of brothers and sisters who were killed at work, and we recommit ourselves to the struggle for stricter laws, better enforcement, and stronger prevention efforts,” Kevin Rebeck, president of the Manitoba Federation of Labour said in his address to the attendees.

“In 2017, Manitoba lost 27 workers… a number that doesn’t begin to express the impact of the immense loss of these Manitobans,” Growth, Enterprise, and Trade Minister Blaine Pedersen said.

“They were much more than workers,” Pedersen continued. “They were family members, they were friends, they were coworkers, and they were our neighbours.”

The annual National Day of Mourning Safe Workers of Tomorrow Leaders' Walk for workers killed, injured or became ill due to workplace hazards and incidents in Winnipeg on Friday, April 27, 2018, is led by the family of Todd Maytwayashing, a 22-year-old from Lake Manitoba First Nation who was killed in January while working as a Manitoba Hydro contractor near Gillam. The 21st annual walk was culminated with a reading of the names of the 27 workers killed in 2017 and the official ground-breaking for the Manitoba Workers' Memorial to honour Manitoba firefighters, peace officers, and workers who have lost their lives while at work.DECLAN SCHROEDER/Winnipeg Sun/Postmedia Network/SunMedia

The annual National Day of Mourning Safe Workers of Tomorrow Leaders' Walk for workers killed, injured or became ill due to workplace hazards and incidents heads down Broadway towards Memorial Park in Winnipeg on Friday, April 27, 2018. The 21st annual walk was culminated with a reading of the names of the 27 workers killed in 2017 and the official ground-breaking for the Manitoba Workers' Memorial to honour Manitoba firefighters, peace officers, and workers who have lost their lives while at work.DECLAN SCHROEDER/Winnipeg Sun/Postmedia Network/SunMedia

The annual National Day of Mourning Safe Workers of Tomorrow Leaders' Walk for workers killed, injured or became ill due to workplace hazards and incidents heads down Broadway towards Memorial Park in Winnipeg on Friday, April 27, 2018. The 21st annual walk was culminated with a reading of the names of the 27 workers killed in 2017 and the official ground-breaking for the Manitoba Workers' Memorial to honour Manitoba firefighters, peace officers, and workers who have lost their lives while at work.DECLAN SCHROEDER/Winnipeg Sun/Postmedia Network/SunMedia

The annual National Day of Mourning Safe Workers of Tomorrow Leaders' Walk for workers killed, injured or became ill due to workplace hazards and incidents heads down Broadway towards Memorial Park in Winnipeg on Friday, April 27, 2018. The 21st annual walk was culminated with a reading of the names of the 27 workers killed in 2017 and the official ground-breaking for the Manitoba Workers' Memorial to honour Manitoba firefighters, peace officers, and workers who have lost their lives while at work.DECLAN SCHROEDER/Winnipeg Sun/Postmedia Network/SunMedia

The annual National Day of Mourning Safe Workers of Tomorrow Leaders' Walk for workers killed, injured or became ill due to workplace hazards and incidents heads down Broadway towards Memorial Park in Winnipeg on Friday, April 27, 2018. The walk was led by the family of Todd Maytwayashing, a 22-year-old from Lake Manitoba First Nation who was killed in January while working as a Manitoba Hydro contractor near Gillam. The 21st annual walk was culminated with a reading of the names of the 27 workers killed in 2017 and the official ground-breaking for the Manitoba Workers' Memorial to honour Manitoba firefighters, peace officers, and workers who have lost their lives while at work.DECLAN SCHROEDER/Winnipeg Sun/Postmedia Network/SunMedia

The annual National Day of Mourning Safe Workers of Tomorrow Leaders' Walk for workers killed, injured or became ill due to workplace hazards and incidents heads down Broadway towards Memorial Park in Winnipeg on Friday, April 27, 2018. The 21st annual walk was culminated with a reading of the names of the 27 workers killed in 2017 and the official ground-breaking for the Manitoba Workers' Memorial to honour Manitoba firefighters, peace officers, and workers who have lost their lives while at work.DECLAN SCHROEDER/Winnipeg Sun/Postmedia Network/SunMedia

The 21st annual National Day of Mourning Safe Workers of Tomorrow Leaders' Walk for workers killed, injured or became ill due to workplace hazards and incidents at Memorial Park in Winnipeg on Friday, April 27, 2018, was culminated with a reading of the names of the 27 workers killed in 2017 and the official ground-breaking for the Manitoba Workers' Memorial to honour Manitoba firefighters, peace officers, and workers who have lost their lives while at work.DECLAN SCHROEDER/Winnipeg Sun/Postmedia Network/SunMedia

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2018 National Day of Mourning Leaders' Walk

The ceremony was preceded by the 21st annual Safe Workers of Tomorrow Leaders’ Walk. Approximately 400 people — politicians, union representatives, employers, advocacy groups, and high school students — walked down Broadway from Smith Street to Memorial Park, their colourful flags and banners of remembrance juxtaposed against their sombre faces and grey, blustery conditions.

“We must all work together to make our workplaces safe,” Michael Weirer, chairperson of the Workers Compensation Board said to the crowd prior to the walk. “It’s a group effort. Everyone has to contribute to it.”

Safe Workers of Tomorrow (SWOT) gives health and safety presentations to students on how to be safe on the job. About 5,000 young workers are reported injured every year to the Workers Compensation Board, SWOT’s executive director Peter Reimer said.

“Kids are a very vulnerable sector because they’ll do almost anything to get a job,” Reimer said. “They’re used to being told what to do by adults and listening. Sometimes, adults tell them to do unsafe things.”

Reimer said two workers between age 15 and 24 have recently died.

Todd Maytwayashing — whose family was on hand with a banner remembering him — was one of them.

The 22-year-old from Lake Manitoba First Nation was killed in January while working as a Manitoba Hydro contractor near Gillam. He was putting a load onto a semi-trailer when he was struck by two fifteen-foot sheets of falling steel.

Barry Swan, Todd’s father, said his family would fight for legislation to be put in place so no one else has to experience their grief.

“Everyone should be allowed to come home in a safe manner,” he said, choking up. “We’re going to fight for your kids to come home so no one ever gets the call we did on Jan. 17.”

“I’m at a loss for words, but my heart goes out for all the loved ones that were hurt, injured, and perished,” he continued as he found his voice. “I know what your families are going through and I pray for you guys, too, from our family.”

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